Pubdate: Fri, 29 Jun 2001
Source: Times of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan)
Section: Uzbekistan
Copyright: 2001 The Times of Central Asia
Contact:  http://www.times.kg/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1202

UZBEK POLICE PUT END TO ACTIVITY OF DRUG SMUGGLING GROUP

TASHKENT - A group of drug smugglers has been exposed in Uzbekistan. The 
narcotics were being shipped to Russia. Shuhrat Gafurov, a resident of 
Samarkand, has been detained for smuggling 500 gramsof heroin, sources in 
the public relations bureau of the Uzbek security service have told 
Interfax. Criminal proceedings have been instituted. The police have 
exposed the whole mechanism of the group, made up of nationals of 
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Danotar Pishmanov from 
Karakalpakstan, an autonomous district of Uzbekistan, led the group.

The drugs were supplied from Tajikistan. Gafurov shipped the drugs to his 
accomplices in Karakalpakstan, from where they were smuggled directly to 
Russia or transported to Russia via Turkmenistan.

The police confiscated firearms, 45,000 dollars, 3.5m Turkmen manats, over 
2 million Uzbek soms (1 dollar = 377.70 sums) and a large quantity of 
narcotics from the group members.

About 10 similar groups have been exposed in Uzbekistan since the beginning 
of the year. The overall haul by the police has exceeded 70 kg of heroin.
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